Blue Jays playoffs chat with Richard Griffin: Live at noon

The plate umpire is Dale Scott, well respected and veteran. Should leave the decision in G5 to the teams rather than having me turn my head in the press box on every pitch because I can't believe that was called a-a strike, b-a ball. The Carapazza guy was awful. He's the same ump who had the Nats-Giants playoff game that went 18-19 last year and threw people out for arguing calls.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:39:26 PM

Would you of gone with Gallardo instead of Hamels today?

by Trevor10/14/2015 4:39:43 PM

Against everyone else but the Jays Gallardo has been average. Hamels is on full rest and is the guy the Rangers traded for at the deadline to go in their biggest games. He is as Pres. George W. Bush so aptly descried "the decider." But Gallardo to me will be the first man out of the pen should they need him early.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:41:12 PM

Can the Jays exploit beltre if he is as hobbled as he looked Monday or is he simply too good to discount?

by Lindrino10/14/2015 4:41:24 PM

When you get to a certain age, you know what a lower back issue can be like. I once managed the last four innings of a tournament game in Vaughan lying on the bench on my back. We won, but I wasn't playing third base -- especially on artificial turf. He was hobbled in Texas and can swing the bat because he is a great hitter. But they are batting Prince Fielder ahead of Beltre so they don't clog up the bases. YIKES. That tells you all you need to know.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:44:27 PM

We're obviously biased in thinking the Jays are a great team. What has the opinion been among the US media?

by D-E-B-T10/14/2015 4:44:37 PM

I have seen columnists calling this one of the greatest lineups ever 1927 Yankees, etc. So I guess they appreciate the lineup more than we think.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:46:10 PM

Griff! Maybe I was wrong last week. It's not destiny for the Jays. Shucks!

Question! With all this open/closed dome talk, back in 92/93 was this an issue? What did they do then? Tks!

by Jack3910/14/2015 4:46:55 PM

Well MLB whenever there is a dome always seems to keep it closed. I remember the '01 games in Phoenix and the dome was closed and people couldn't understand that. The logic here was that if there was any chance of rain (like a lone white cloud in the sky) that the dome would remain closed and the Jays have never played a playoff game with the dome open. (I believe). MLB is terrified of mechanical failure.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:49:14 PM

Did Gibby put his job on the line by burning Price on a 7-1 lead and preventing him from pitching out of the pen today? (sorry for asking again, might have posted too early an hour ago)

by Ryan10/14/2015 4:49:28 PM

There was no decision made by Gibbons that did not include input from AA. Therefore if it was ever cited as part of a decision not to bring Gibbons back that would be cowardly.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:50:20 PM

Do you think the media is making too much of the way Dickey and Price were used in game 4? They both seem to be consummate team players. If they weren't, we wouldn't want them around.

by Matthew10/14/2015 4:50:35 PM

The media tries to identify what it is that the fans want to know and be informed about because the media has access and represents the readership or listenership or viewership in the clubhouse, so if you tell us that we overplayed it and that wasn't the talking point after G4 then we were wrong, but otherwise it was not overplayed.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:52:26 PM

What's Loup's status?

by Justin10/14/2015 4:52:29 PM

He is not here and not available.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:52:39 PM

Can they get to Hamels? He looked beatable early in Gm2 before hunkering down.

by Elliot10/14/2015 4:52:49 PM

Hamels will be looking longingly over to where Vic Carapazzo is working the bases because Vic is what you mean by "hunkering down."

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:53:55 PM

Do you buy into the conspiracy that Fox, and even MLB are conspiring with whatever they can to not let a non-US team win?

by D-E-B-T10/14/2015 4:54:10 PM

No. I don't think incompetence equals a conspiracy. I think MLB and the networs are hoping the Jays do not advance but to have a secret meeting and plan how that is going to happen. Hey, I'm as big a conspiracy buff as the next guy, even bigger. But the Jays won in 92-93 and the Expos won in '9....oops, hey wait a second. Bud cancelled the World Series so Canada wouldn't win three straight years. Never mind.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:56:50 PM

If MLB doesn't want a Canadian team to win, then why do they hold exhibition games in Mexico, Europe, etc. And when there is talk about expansion, it is to international markets. The conspiracy narrative is inconsistent with reality.

by bg10/14/2015 4:57:12 PM

$$$$$$$

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:57:21 PM

1993 Jays v 2015 Jays...which team wins a 7 game series?

by Sean10/14/2015 4:57:37 PM

I've seen those '93 Jays when they come to town and they're all like 55-60 years old. I'll take the '15 Jays.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:58:21 PM

Can you see Price circumnavigating Gibbons' decision and try to "insert" himself in the game?

by Sebastian10/14/2015 4:58:49 PM

I don't think it will come down to that. I believe they are all pulling on the oars to go in the same direction and if Price goes to Gibbons and volunteers for 1-2 LH batters, it won't be circumnavigating.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 4:59:46 PM

Can they not replace Loup on the roster??

by sr10/14/2015 5:00:10 PM

They did with Tepera, but truthfully, I would hope that they change that to activate Buehrle for the next round. He deserves it and may even have a moment where he contributes to a win.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 5:01:00 PM

If all the BJ free agents choose to leave the nest (Price, Estrada, etc.), who should the Jays target?

by Tommy Boy10/14/2015 5:01:16 PM

Hey let's stay in the moment and enjoy Game 5. I have time for two more questions. This is getting me fired up for a column.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 5:01:50 PM

I like your sense of humour!

by D-E-B-T10/14/2015 5:01:56 PM

Can I give you my wife's e-mail, please.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 5:02:12 PM

do you have to sit beside any loud mouth Texans in the press box?

by bg10/14/2015 5:02:27 PM

Just loud mouth Canadians. Mike Rutsey of the Sun is retiring after the Jays finish this season and despite being one of the CDN loud mouths, we are all going to miss him as a traveling companion. Good luck Ruts.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 5:03:40 PM

I just wish Buck and Pat were doing the announcing

by Just Wondering10/14/2015 5:03:54 PM

Do managers often make decisions about starting line-up/bullpen with input from the GM?

by Ryan10/14/2015 5:04:53 PM

So do they. Buck was sitting in the third row of the Arlington press box and had to stand up to see home plate. Rogers should have a bigger role for those guys.

by Richard Griffin10/14/2015 5:04:54 PM

In the playoffs? With so many off-days? When it involves key players who might be free agents? Yes. That's it for the LIVE CHAT. I appreciate the intelligence and good humour of the questions. Hopefully we will be doing this again next wednesday . Thanks.